Taking off on a whim after what seemed like forty days of rain just felt so right. One small detail I left out for the getaway was that it is Thursday before the July 4th weekend and a mass exodus of city residents is about to happen; leaving us with no choice but to compete for the last available space in the Long Island Expressway, with the Hamptonites who are scurrying home to their holiday retreats. Chong and I managed to make it to Southampton in less than two hours, of course stopping for some McCafe and her favorite greasy hash browns along the way.
Destination: The Water Mill Museum
The town of Water Mill in Southampton was named after the water mill that was built in 1644 by Edward Howell. In exchange for building the millstone and a dam, he received 40 acres of precious land, which today would be valued in who knows how many millions of dollars.
Today the Water Mill Museum houses the mill that continues to grind. Hanging on the wall by the entrance to the building was a beautiful blue quilt of traditional design which we were told is the prize for this month's raffle. Also on display are milling exhibits showing the history of milling from beginning of civilization. The lady keeper of the museum was very enthusiastic in giving us a lesson on the process of milling.The grain is lifted in sacks and emptied into the bins where the grain falls down through a hopper to the stone grinder below. The flow of grain is regulated by shaking the grain gently into the hole in the center of the runner stone. A wooden piece directs the grain to the eye while an iron piece named damsel, by male chauvinist millers eight centuries ago, shakes and chatters while moving the grain. This is the only metal part of this particular mill. The milled grain is collected in the trough on the ground.
The mill is powered by a 12 foot undershot water wheel made of mahogany. The building is made of wood and the beams are held together by wooden pegs. In order to prevent the vibration from the milling, from shaking the building apart, the mill sits on its own foundation.
To preserve and support the Water Mill Museum, special art exhibits and quilt show and sale are held throughout the summer. This quilt was made for the Bicentennial celebration in 1976.
This bronze piece entitled Torso by Mark Newton is listed at $4,000. What a surprise! Mark was one of Chong's student in the TASCA Spring sailing class which was recently completed. A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship, his impressive bio and portfolio were included in the exhibit's catalogue.
This house on the other side of the mill pond is a typical Long Island house with its wrap-around porch and charming Victorian details. The marble sculpture shown in the picture is entitled The Owl by John Capello and listed at $1,500.Right next to the Water Mill Museum is a tiny gallery(not pictured), Celadon - A Clay Art Gallery, full of fabulous pottery, plenty to choose from but pricey. It has a workshop space and a kiln in the back available to local artisans to use.
Located on the south fork of Long Island and the surrounding countryside, Southampton is synonymous with preppy America, the Wall Street rich (or not, any longer) and their Ralph Lauren-wearing children. Beautiful homes, green fields, sandy beaches and the closest place to get a respite from New York City, that's the Hamptons.
Not your run-of-the-mill style of living. And...we just happened to be milling around.
